THIS Parent School: Finding Freedom with Zhuangzi
On November 25,th,2025 the Tsinghua International School (THIS) Parent School held its parent book club session. More than forty parents and teachers came to hear scholar Chen Keshu talk about Zhuangzi and the Art of Carefree Living. Mr. Chen used material from his own books about Zhuangzi to explain what true freedom means.
Chen Keshu, a poet and scholar from Peking University, focuses his research on pre-Qin philosophers, Tang and Song poetry, as well as modern Chinese poetry. He is the author of several acclaimed works, including:
Zhuangzi: Reflections on an Unburdened Life
Journey: A New Translation and Interpretation of Zhuangzi
Freedom Is Not "Giving Up"
Mr. Chen said that many people today get Zhuangzi wrong. They think his idea of "carefree living" means giving up or doing nothing—what some call "lying flat." But Zhuangzi's famous story about a fish turning into a giant bird shows something different. The fish must grow, change, and learn to fly before it can travel freely. "True freedom requires work and growth," Mr. Chen explained. "It’s not about being lazy."
Is Arriving Enough?
Then Mr. Chen asked a deeper question: “Once the bird reaches its destination, is it truly free? Think of a rich movie star who can fly anywhere to feed pigeons. Is he really free? What happens when he gets bored? Do you look for something newer, farther away?”
The real answer, according to Zhuangzi, is not about where you go or what you have. Another story tells of Liezi, who could ride the wind but had to come back when the wind stopped. That means he still depended on something outside himself. Real freedom, Zhuangzi says, comes from inside. It means not depending on things, not worrying about your reputation, and not being trapped by your own ego.
So the heart of Zhuangzi’s teaching is wu ji—"no self." This doesn't mean you disappear. It means you let go of always thinking about yourself—your image, your success, what others think. Moving from one place to another, like the bird or the movie star, is a start. But real freedom happens in the mind, when you are no longer a prisoner of your own thoughts.
Mr. Chen spoke for two hours, making these ancient ideas clear and even funny. Parents laughed and listened closely.
After the talk, many asked how to use Zhuangzi’s wisdom in raising children today. THIS Vice Principal Ms. Dong Wenbo shared that students at THIS are also studying Zhuangzi in class. "This isn't just old philosophy," she said. "It reminds us not to judge children only by how 'useful' they seem. Every child has their own kind of light."
What Parents Said
"Yesterday's book club was our biggest one yet. Trying to improve every day while staying peaceful inside is a long journey. Growing takes time. Do we have the courage to start over for what we believe in? Can we see value in things that don't seem useful right away? These are questions we face every day. Freedom comes when our actions match what we believe."
— Chen Xiaoshen, 12L parent
"Mr. Chen made Zhuangzi feel fresh and relevant. 'Carefree living' isn't running away from life. It's about not being trapped by small-minded thinking. Something that looks useless to others—like a big empty gourd—might actually be perfect for floating on a river. Maybe we measure 'useful' too narrowly."
— Liu Na, 2W parent
"I especially liked how Mr. Chen showed us a clear way to read Zhuangzi. And his point about 'the use of the useless' made me think. We push our children to be 'useful' so much that we might forget to let them be themselves. Sometimes the most 'useless' time—daydreaming, playing, exploring—is what helps them grow strong inside."
— Xu Nan, 5W parent
Coming Next
On December 17, we’ll read You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. It's a practical book about how changing your thoughts can change your life. Come and join us to learn ways to build inner strength and kindness toward yourself!
